Scratching the glass

[stantrb]

Hi Everyone. This is my first first post here, but I'm an avid reader, and I need some help.

My iPhone screen is covered with at least 20 scratches, some of which are deep enough that I can feel them with my fingernail. Let's be clear about this up front: I do not abuse the phone. I keep in it my pocket with a debit card and driver's license, and that's it. It doesn't have a screen protector, but will soon, as these scratches just keep popping up out of nowhere.

I'm more than a little concerned about this, given that I seem to be one of the only people with an easily scratchable iPhone screen. I've seen the scratch tests, but looking at the tiny scratches all my phone, I'm convinced it couldn't stand up to a key.

I honestly have no idea how these scratches are appearing, so I'm asking if anyone has any ideas. I haven't contacted Apple, because they're going to think I'm just some idiot who can't stop scratching glass. In truth, I'm not doing ANYTHING that should even remotely scratch the glass. My wife's iPhone, bought the same time as mine, sits in her purse with keys, pens, and who knows what else. No scratches. Mine stays in my pocket with 2 plastic cards and has 20+ nicks.

ANYBODY got any ideas?

 

[Annndy!]

Contact Apple. Who cares if they think you're an idiot? It sounds like something's wrong with your screen. I've carried my iPhone with a set of keys in the same pocket, no problems. The worst they can do is tell you they can't give you a new one. At least you'll have tried.

 

[A Pittarelli]

pc world has a great video of them trying to scratch the screen and they cant, so if yours is scratched, send it back

 

[megfilmworks]

Maybe your wife is trying to Gaslight you.

 

[stantrb]

Maybe your wife is trying to Gaslight you.

Hehe. Nope. 4GB vs. 8GB, and I can definitely read

 

[stantrb]

The real thing that bothers me is that I haven't been able to find many instances of the glass actually scratching. Lots of folks have scratched the chrome, but it seems to generally take some major stuff to scratch the glass, especially deep enough that you can feel the scratch.

There's actually no reliable information on how to remove scratches, or if it's even possible.

Maybe my pockets are lined with diamonds?

 

[megfilmworks]

Maybe someone else is taking it and scratching it and then returning it, like keying a car.

 

[Annndy!]

Maybe someone else is taking it and scratching it and then returning it, like keying a car.

You're a regular bundle of joy, aren't you?

 

[stantrb]

Maybe someone else is taking it and scratching it and then returning it, like keying a car.

It's this kind of mentality that's kept me from calling Apple. I mean really, how in the hell does somebody scratch an unscratchable screen with nothing but jeans and plastic? If I knew, I wouldn't be asking.

Stan

 

[megfilmworks]

This is quite common actually, in the "Twilight Zone"

 

[johnzoidberg]

It's possible that your pockets may have grit in them, sand especially. (Glass, after all, is usually made out of sand.) Maybe that's what's scratching your screen. Try to keeping your pockets clean.

 

[Joshua8o8]

It's possible that your pockets may have grit in them, sand especially. (Glass, after all, is usually made out of sand.) Maybe that's what's scratching your screen. Try to keeping your pockets clean.

Thats exactly what i was thinking, i know i almost put my phone in my pocket while getting something to eat after going to the beach one day. If i didnt stop myself from putting it in my pocket i know i would have scratched the screen for sure. My old nextel i had was all scratched up from sand. I would put it in my sandy pocket all the time because i didnt care about it.

I have seen infomercials selling glass scratch removers, if you call apple and they wont replace you iphone maybe that will be worth a try.

 

[megfilmworks]

If you figure out how it got scratched, please let us know.

 

[rollingstart]

Is it possible that your particular glass was manufactured defective? I mean, it's not like every single glass for every iPhone was created equally and 100% perfect. Nor have I ever heard of a manufacturing process with a 0% defect rate. It might possibly be just a bad apple...heh.

 

[KD7IWP]

It seems silly to me that it would be scratched like that if you only have a license in your pocket. I think you might be doing something that scratches it, because my regular cell phone is ALWAYS in my pocket, and I put other things in there, and it hasn't been scratched and I've had it over a year.

 

[Cleverboy]

I feel bad for you. I agree with the comment above. If you find out what scratched your glass, let us know. I regularly toss my iPhone in a bag with keys and a gazillion other metal objects, in my pocket with lots of change, and more. Absolutely NO scratches. If there's something amongst that that WILL eventually scratch my phone, I'd love a heads up just in case.

~ CB

 

[stantrb]

It seems silly to me that it would be scratched like that if you only have a license in your pocket. I think you might be doing something that scratches it, because my regular cell phone is ALWAYS in my pocket, and I put other things in there, and it hasn't been scratched and I've had it over a year.

Yeah, it seems pretty dang silly to me too, especially considering it's the truth. I'm not an infant, and I'm not looking for sympathy hand outs here. I'm just at my wit's end as to what's causing it. I know how to treat a $600 machine, and if I'd ever thought scratching would be an issue, I would have bought a screen protector. That being said, PC World and Youtube convinced me that nothing common could scratch this screen.

Yet here I sit. The screen's got random scratches, from 2-5 mm long, all over it and some small spots that look like a scratchy haze. It's not:

-my keys, which are in my other pocket
-my wedding ring. The phone screen doesn't come into contact with my ring.
-pocket knife is in another pocket

It could be sand, but that's unlikely. I don't ever come into contact with sand, and I don't wear the same pants every day.

The only thing that "forcefully" comes into contact with the screen are my fingers. That's why I'm so confused, and basically clueless.

Believe me or not, it's your perogative. I do know that I haven't tried to intentionally scratch the screen to test it. But, I'm sure if I touched it with a key, the key would gouge a valley into the glass.

Stan

 

[LoneWolf121188]

You're not the only one: mines been getting scratched too, though I only count two deep ones and one minor one. The only thing I (occasionally) keep in the same pocket as my phone is my glasses case. I've resorted to keeping the hard plastic covering that came with my iSkin revo on the phone whenever its in my pocket. Annoying, but it works.

 

[e.n.d.]

More victims of the pcmag video...

 

[tribe3]

Diamonds ear rings? That will sure do it. I finally put a plastic film over my screen after my wife put 2 little scratches with her tiny diamond ear rings.

 

[KD7IWP]

Has it ever been set on a hard surface, face down? I know how quickly iBooks can get scratched if they're missing rubber feet on the bottom and you set them on a desk with only one piece of sand and it gets all scratched.

 

[Doozy]

Video of iPhone Display Scratches

My iPhone has scratches on the screen as well. I have video of it at iphoneusers

I am pretty bummed that this happen, I fell victim to all those screen test as well. My wife said you better protect that screen, and I said no way, this iPhone is built like a tank. Why is she always right.

Anyway, I keep the iPhone in my pocket and I treat it like a baby. THe iPhone does come in contact with change and keys, but I try and move the keys to another pocket if the phone ends up in the same pocket.

I will be getting a screen protector for sure.

BTW: I have a version 7 screen

 

[stantrb]

So, the scratch plot thickens.

This COULD be me being paranoid, but I kind of doubt it. My iPhone is currently en route to Apple to check some very lackluster battery life. I haven't said anything about scratches to them; I've just been in touch trying to resolve a 4 hour battery life average.

Skip forward to today. I get the loaner phone in the mail (ps...Apple VOLUNTEERED to waive the $30 loaner fee. It's all about who you're talking to and how nice you are, but they did it without me even asking.) I'm sitting there comparing the loaner and my iPhone, and I instantly notice that there's some kind of difference in the screens. Bare with me on this.

My wife has an iPhone, and I've always thought her screen was different than mine. They both LOOK the same, but they FEEL different. Hers was alway slippery, silky even. Mine was always kind of sticky, and produced a lot of drag as my fingers slid across it. I though the difference was that she wore makeup or had something on her skin making the screen silkier...something.

Anyway, the loaner iPhone has a smooth screen, like my wife's. I've used it all day, and it's still way smoother than mine. So, I went to an AT&T store and played with the demos. Same smooth screens.

Mine's not exactly "sticky", but tacky is a good word. It's noticibily harder to slip your fingers across my iPhone's screen than any of the others I've now come into contact with.

SO, what's the deal? Do I need to call Apple and have them look at my screen while the battery's being repaired? Are they even going to bother with repairing the battery, or are they just going to exchange the phone?

Weirdness, either way.

Stan

 

[Doozy]

You know now that you mention it, I would describe my screen the exact same way "tacky". It could be not a problem with the glass, but maybe a problem with the coating Apple applied to the glass.

I am going to take mine to the Apple store and see what they think.

 

[stantrb]

Doozy,

I just watched your video, and that is precisely what my screen looks like. Your scratches are a little longer than mine, and I have a few more than you, but the general condition is exactly the same. My phone's still at Apple having the battery looked at. Let us know what your visit to the Apple Store yields. I'd go myself, but the nearest one is over 3 hours away.

Stan


ps...without trying to start a conspiracy, I have a 7 series screen too.